SUBJECT · Complete Bible Study

Night

The ancient Hebrews began their artificial day in the evening, and ended it the next evening; so that the night preceded the day, whence it is said, evening and morning one day,” Gen. This unified study connects 7 installed resource categories without replacing their source records.

View overview sources
  • Historical Reference: Nave’s Topical Bible — Public domain
  • Historical Reference: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary
  • Historical Reference: concordance
  • Historical Reference: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible lexical data / BDB-Strong mapping
  • Historical Reference: STEPBible TBESG (based primarily on Abbott-Smith)
  • Historical Reference: A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament
  • Historical Reference: Installed reference work

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Study overview

Study at a glance

Subject type
Subject
Strong’s
H3915, H3916, G3571, H2822, H5399, H6153, G3319
Hebrew
לַ֫יְלָה · layil
Greek
νύξ · nux

Strong’s and original-language information

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

νύξ

G3571
Transliteration
nux
Language
Greek
Part of speech
G:N-F
Indexed occurrences
61

Glosses

night, (mid-)night

Lexicon definition

νύξ genitive νυκτός, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for לַיִל ;] night: Mat.12:40, Mrk.6:48, Jhn.13:30, al.; genitive temp. (of the time within which something happens; M, Pr., 73; B1., § 36, 13), νυκτός, by night, Mat.2:14, Jhn.3:2, 1Th.5:7, al.; ν. κ. ἡμέρας, Mrk.5:5, 1Th.2:9, al.; ἡμέρας κ. ν., Luk.18:7, Rev.4:8, al.; μέσης ν., Mat.25:6; dative, νυκτί, in ans. to the question, "when?" (rare in cl.; Hdt., Soph.), ταύτῃ τ. ν., Luk.12:20, al.; ἐκείνῃ Act.12:6; ἐπιούσῃ, Act.23:11; accusative durat. (Bl., § 34, 8; Kühner3, III, 314b), ν. κ. ἠμέραν, Luk.2:37 Act.20:31; τ. νύκτας, Luk.21:37; διὰ νυκτός (= cl. νυκτός; Bl., § 42, 1; 46, 7), Act.5:19 16:9 17:10 23:31; δι᾽ ὅλης ν., Luk.5:5; κατὰ μέσον τῆς ν. (Bl., § 47, 6), Act.27:27. Metaphorical: Jhn.9:4, Rom.13:12, 1Th.5:5 (AS)

A Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament

Νύξ

G3571
Transliteration
nýx
Language
Greek
Indexed occurrences
61

Glosses

(mid-)night

Lexicon definition

night, Mat. 2.14; 28.13. Jno. 3.2; met. spiritual night, moral darkness, Ro. 13.12. 1 Th. 5.5.

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

חֹשֶׁךְ

H2822
Transliteration
chôshek
Pronunciation
kho-shek'
Language
Hebrew
Indexed occurrences
80

Glosses

dark(-ness), night, obscurity.

Lexicon definition

the dark

hence (literally) darkness

figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

נֶשֶׁף

H5399
Transliteration
nesheph
Pronunciation
neh'-shef
Language
Hebrew
Indexed occurrences
12

Glosses

dark, dawning of the day (morning), night, twilight.

Lexicon definition

properly, a breeze, i.e. (by implication) dusk (when the evening breeze prevails)

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

עֶרֶב

H6153
Transliteration
ʻereb
Pronunciation
eh'-reb
Language
Hebrew
Indexed occurrences
134

Glosses

[phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night.

Lexicon definition

dusk

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

μέσος

G3319
Transliteration
mésos
Language
Greek
Indexed occurrences
56

Glosses

among, X before them, between, + forth, mid(-day, -night), midst, way

Lexicon definition

middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun)

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

לֵילְיָא

H3916
Transliteration
lêylᵉyâʼ
Pronunciation
lay-leh-yaw'
Language
Hebrew
Indexed occurrences
5

Glosses

night.

Lexicon definition

{Lael an Israelite}

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

לַיִל

H3915
Transliteration
layil
Pronunciation
lah'-yil
Language
Hebrew
Indexed occurrences
233

Glosses

(mid-)night (season).

Lexicon definition

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night

figuratively, adversity

Complete dictionary entries

A Biblical and Theological Dictionary

NIGHT

The ancient Hebrews began their artificial day in the evening, and ended it the next evening; so that the night preceded the day, whence it is said, evening and morning one day,” Gen. i, 5. They allowed twelve hours to the night, and twelve to the day. Night is put for a time of affliction and adversity: Thou hast proved mine heart, thou hast visited me in the night, thou hast tried me,” Psalm xvii, 3; that is, by adversity and tribulation. And the morning cometh, and also the night,” Isaiah xxi, 12. Night is also put for the time of death: The night cometh, wherein no man can work,” John ix, 4. Children of the day, and children of the night, in a moral and figurative sense, denote good men and wicked men, Christians and Gentiles. The disciples of the Son of God are children of light: they belong to the light, they walk in the light of truth; while the children of the night walk in the darkness of ignorance and infidelity, and perform only works of darkness. Ye are all the children of the light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness,” 1 Thess. v, 5.

Source: A Biblical and Theological Dictionary · View data sources

Concordance

Strong's Concordance

Night

Indexed occurrences: 315

Source: Strong's Concordance · View data sources

Strong's Concordance

Nights

Indexed occurrences: 19

Source: Strong's Concordance · View data sources

All Scripture references273 references

Genesis 25

Exodus 16

Leviticus 3

Numbers 9

Deuteronomy 10

Joshua 7

Judges 11

Ruth 4

1 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 8

1 Kings 8

2 Kings 7

1 Chronicles 2

2 Chronicles 5

Ezra 2

Nehemiah 10

Esther 2

Job 21

Psalms 29

Proverbs 3

Ecclesiastes 2

Song of Solomon 3

Isaiah 15

Jeremiah 11

Lamentations 3

Daniel 5

Hosea 2

Amos 2

Obadiah 1

Jonah 3

Micah 1

Nahum 1

Zechariah 2

Matthew 3

Mark 3

Luke 6

John 3

Acts 6

Romans 1

2 Corinthians 1

1 Thessalonians 1

Revelation 1

Topical Bible

Sources

Ancient Context20 items

Josephus Antiquities Whiston

Concerning Jacob's Flight Into Mesopotamia, By Reason Of The Fear He Was In Of His Brother.

Antiquities Book 1, Chapter 19

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How The Sea Was Divided Asunder For The Hebrews, When They Were Pursued By The Egyptians, And So Gave Them An Opportunity Of Escaping From Them.

Antiquities Book 2, Chapter 16

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How The Amalekites And The Neighbouring Nations, Made War With The Hebrews And Were Beaten And Lost A Great Part Of Their Army.

Antiquities Book 3, Chapter 2

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Moses Was Displeased At This, And Foretold That God Was Angry And That They Should Continue In The Wilderness For Forty Years And Not, During That Time, Either Return Into Egypt Or Take Possession Of Canaan.

Antiquities Book 3, Chapter 15

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Joshua, The Commander Of The Hebrews, Made War With The Canaanites, And Overcame Them, And Destroyed Them, And Divided Their Land By Lot To The Tribes Of Israel.

Antiquities Book 5, Chapter 1

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How, After The Death Of Joshua Their Commander, The Israelites Transgressed The Laws Of Their Country, And Experienced Great Afflictions; And When There Was A Sedition Arisen, The Tribe Of Benjamin Was Destroyed Excepting Only Six Hundred Men.

Antiquities Book 5, Chapter 2

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How The Midianites And Other Nations Fought Against The Israelites And Beat Them, And Afflicted Their Country For Seven Years, How They Were Delivered By Gideon, Who Ruled Over The Multitude For Forty Years.

Antiquities Book 5, Chapter 6

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How David, Upon Saul's Laying Snares For Him, Did Yet Escape The Dangers He Was In By The Affection And Care Of Jonathan And The Contrivances Of His Wife Michal: And How He Came To Samuel The Prophet.

Antiquities Book 6, Chapter 11

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How David, When He Had Twice The Opportunity Of Killing Saul Did Not Kill Him. Also Concerning The Death Of Samuel And Nabal.

Antiquities Book 6, Chapter 13

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Saul Upon God's Not Answering Him Concerning The Fight With The Philistines Desired A Necromantic Woman To Raise Up The Soul Of Samuel To Him; And How He Died, With His Sons Upon The Overthrow Of The Hebrews In Battle.

Antiquities Book 6, Chapter 14

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How David Reigned Over One Tribe At Hebron While The Son Of Saul Reigned Over The Rest Of The Multitude; And How, In The Civil War Which Then Arose Asahel And Abner Were Slain.

Antiquities Book 7, Chapter 1

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat; How Joram, His Namesake, King Of Israel, Fought With The Syrians; And What Wonders Were Done By The Prophet Elisha.

Antiquities Book 9, Chapter 4

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Sennacherib Made An Expedition Against Hezekiah; What Threatenings Rabshakeh Made To Hezekiah When Sennacherib Was Gone Against The Egyptians; How Isaiah The Prophet Encouraged Him; How Sennacherib Having Failed Of Success In Egypt, Returned Thence To Jerusalem; And How Upon His Finding His Army Destroyed, He Returned Home; And What Befell Him A Little Afterward.

Antiquities Book 10, Chapter 1

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

Concerning Daniel And What Befell Him At Babylon.

Antiquities Book 10, Chapter 10

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

Concerning Nebuchadnezzar And His Successors And How Their Government Was Dissolved By The Persians; And What Things Befell Daniel In Media; And What Prophecies He Delivered There.

Antiquities Book 10, Chapter 11

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How After The Death Of Cambyses And The Slaughter Of The Magi But Under The Reign Of Darius, Zorobabel Was Superior To The Rest In The Solution Of Problems And Thereby Obtained This Favor Of The King, That The Temple Should Be Built.

Antiquities Book 11, Chapter 3

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Xerxes The Son Of Darius Was Well Disposed To The Jews; As Also Concerning Esdras And Nehemiah.

Antiquities Book 11, Chapter 5

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

Concerning Esther And Mordecai And Haman; And How In The Reign Of Artaxerxes The Whole Nation Of The Jews Was In Danger Of Perishing.

Antiquities Book 11, Chapter 6

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Judas Overthrew The Forces Of Apollonius And Seron And Killed The Generals Of Their Armies Themselves; And How When, A Little While Afterwards Lysias And Gorgias Were Beaten He Went Up To Jerusalem And Purified The Temple.

Antiquities Book 12, Chapter 7

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Josephus Antiquities Whiston

How Judas Subdued The Nations Round About; And How Simon Beat The People Of Tyre And Ptolemais; And How Judas Overcame Timotheus, And Forced Him To Fly Away, And Did Many Other Things After Joseph And Azarias Had Been Beaten.

Antiquities Book 12, Chapter 8

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Related UNLEARN Content20 items

Case File

Understanding The Sign of Jonah | Let's Talk Biblical | Episode 13

Yeshua said the only sign that would be given to prove He was the Messiah was “the sign of the prophet Jonah”—three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. But how does…

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Case File

Responding to R.L. Solberg, Defending the Biblical Roots of Christianity - UNLEARN Live

UNLEARN Live with Lex Meyer. Answering your Bible Questions Live every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM CST. Welcome to UNLEARN Live, a podcast for people who are seeking truth in a world of…

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Case File

Q&A with Pastor Daniel Joseph of Corner Fringe Ministries | UNLEARN Live Podcast

UNLEARN Live with Pastor Lex Meyer and Pastor Daniel Joseph of Corner Fringe Ministries. Answering your Bible Questions Live every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM CST. Welcome to UNLEARN Live…

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Case File

What the Sign of Jonah really means

How is it three days and three nights from Friday evening to Sunday morning? The Traditional explanations of the Sign of Jonah don't add up. Did Jesus’ death and resurrection really…

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Topic

NIGHT HAWK

Nave’s Topical Bible references for NIGHT HAWK.

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Topic

NIGHT

Nave’s Topical Bible references for NIGHT.

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Dictionary

Bed

(Heb. mittah), for rest at night (Ex. 8:3; 1 Sam. 19:13, 15, 16, etc.); during sickness (Gen. 47:31; 48:2; 49:33, etc.); as a sofa for rest (1 Sam. 28:23; Amos 3:12). Another Hebrew word (er'es) so rendered denotes a canopied bed, or a bed with curtains (Deut. 3:11; Ps. 132:3), for sickness (Ps. 6:6; 41:3). In the New Testament it denotes sometimes a litter with a coverlet (Matt. 9:2, 6; Luke 5:18; Acts 5:15). The Jewish bedstead was frequently merely the divan or platform along the sides of the house, sometimes a very slight portable frame, sometimes only a mat or one or more quilts. The only material for bed-clothes is mentioned in 1 Sam. 19:13. Sleeping in the open air was not uncommon, the sleeper wrapping himself in his outer garment (Ex. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:12, 13).

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Dictionary

Castle

A military fortress (1 Chr. 11:7), also probably a kind of tower used by the priests for making known anything discovered at a distance (1 Chr. 6:54). Castles are also mentioned (Gen. 25:16) as a kind of watch-tower, from which shepherds kept watch over their flocks by night. The "castle" into which the chief captain commanded Paul to be brought was the quarters of the Roman soldiers in the fortress of Antonia (so called by Herod after his patron Mark Antony), which was close to the north-west corner of the temple (Acts 21:34), which it commanded.

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Dictionary

Chelal

as night

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Dictionary

Cock-crowing

In our Lord's time the Jews had adopted the Greek and Roman division of the night into four watches, each consisting of three hours, the first beginning at six o'clock in the evening (Luke 12:38; Matt. 14:25; Mark 6:48). But the ancient division, known as the first and second cock-crowing, was still retained. The cock usually crows several times soon after midnight (this is the first crowing), and again at the dawn of day (and this is the second crowing). Mark mentions (14:30) the two cock-crowings. Matthew (26:34) alludes to that only which was emphatically the cock-crowing, viz, the second.

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Dictionary

Day

The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Gen. 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (Lam. 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Judg. 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex. 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mark 13:35). (See [147]WATCHES.) The division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Dan. 3:6, 15; 4:19; 5:5. This mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. The reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (John 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Gen. 2:4; Isa. 22:5; Heb. 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isa. 2:12, Acts 17:31, and 2 Tim. 1:18, the great day of final judgment.

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Dictionary

Debtor

Various regulations as to the relation between debtor and creditor are laid down in the Scriptures. (1.) The debtor was to deliver up as a pledge to the creditor what he could most easily dispense with (Deut. 24:10, 11). (2.) A mill, or millstone, or upper garment, when given as a pledge, could not be kept over night (Ex. 22:26, 27). (3.) A debt could not be exacted during the Sabbatic year (Deut. 15:1-15). For other laws bearing on this relation see Lev. 25:14, 32, 39; Matt. 18:25, 34. (4.) A surety was liable in the same way as the original debtor (Prov. 11:15; 17:18).

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Dictionary

Dew

"There is no dew properly so called in Palestine, for there is no moisture in the hot summer air to be chilled into dew-drops by the coldness of the night. From May till October rain is unknown, the sun shining with unclouded brightness day after day. The heat becomes intense, the ground hard, and vegetation would perish but for the moist west winds that come each night from the sea. The bright skies cause the heat of the day to radiate very quickly into space, so that the nights are as cold as the day is the reverse, a peculiarity of climate from which poor Jacob suffered thousands of years ago (Gen. 31:40). To this coldness of the night air the indispensable watering of all plant-life is due. The winds, loaded with moisture, are robbed of it as they pass over the land, the cold air condensing it into drops of water, which fall in a gracious rain of mist on every thirsty blade. In the morning the fog thus created rests like a sea over the plains, and far up the sides of the hills, which raise their heads above it like so many islands. At sunrise, however, the scene speedily changes. By the kindling light the mist is transformed into vast snow-white clouds, which presently break into separate masses and rise up the mountain-sides, to disappear in the blue above, dissipated by the increasing heat. These are the morning clouds and the early dew that go away' of which Hosea (6:4; 13:3) speaks so touchingly" (Geikie's The Holy Land, etc., i., p. 72). Dew is a source of great fertility (Gen. 27:28; Deut. 33:13; Zech. 8:12), and its withdrawal is regarded as a curse from God (2 Sam. 1:21; 1 Kings 17:1). It is the symbol of a multitude (2 Sam. 17:12; Ps. 110:3); and from its refreshing influence it is an emblem of brotherly love and harmony (Ps. 133:3), and of rich spiritual blessings (Hos. 14:5).

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Dictionary

Hand

Called by Galen "the instrument of instruments." It is the symbol of human action (Ps. 9:16; Job 9:30; Isa. 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:8). Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Ps. 26:6; 73:13; Matt. 27:24), also of sanctification (1 Cor. 6:11; Isa. 51:16; Ps. 24:3, 4). In Ps. 77:2 the correct rendering is, as in the Revised Version, "My hand was stretched out," etc., instead of, as in the Authorized Version, "My sore ran in the night," etc. The right hand denoted the south, and the left the north (Job 23:9; 1 Sam. 23:19). To give the right hand was a pledge of fidelity (2 Kings 10:15; Ezra 10:19); also of submission to the victors (Ezek. 17:18; Jer. 50:15). The right hand was lifted up in taking an oath (Gen. 14:22, etc.). The hand is frequently mentioned, particularly the right hand, as a symbol of power and strength (Ps. 60:5; Isa. 28:2). To kiss the hand is an act of homage (1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:27), and to pour water on one's hands is to serve him (2 Kings 3:11). The hand of God is the symbol of his power: its being upon one denotes favour (Ezra 7:6, 28; Isa. 1:25; Luke 1:66, etc.) or punishment (Ex. 9:3; Judg. 2:15; Acts 13:11, etc.). A position at the right hand was regarded as the chief place of honour and power (Ps. 45:9; 80:17; 110:1; Matt. 26:64).

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Dictionary

Night-hawk

(Heb. tahmas) occurs only in the list of unclean birds (Lev. 11:16; Deut. 14:15). This was supposed to be the night-jar (Caprimulgus), allied to the swifts. The Hebrew word is derived from a root meaning "to scratch or tear the face," and may be best rendered, in accordance with the ancient versions, "an owl" (Strix flammea). The Revised Version renders "night-hawk."

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Dictionary

Quaternion

A band of four soldiers. Peter was committed by Herod to the custody of four quaternions, i.e., one quaternion for each watch of the night (Acts 12:4). Thus every precaution was taken against his escape from prison. Two of each quaternion were in turn stationed at the door (12:6), and to two the apostle was chained according to Roman custom.

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Dictionary

Sermon on the mount

After spending a night in solemn meditation and prayer in the lonely mountain-range to the west of the Lake of Galilee (Luke 6:12), on the following morning our Lord called to him his disciples, and from among them chose twelve, who were to be henceforth trained to be his apostles (Mark 3:14, 15). After this solemn consecration of the twelve, he descended from the mountain-peak to a more level spot (Luke 6:17), and there he sat down and delivered the "sermon on the mount" (Matt. 5-7; Luke 6:20-49) to the assembled multitude. The mountain here spoken of was probably that known by the name of the "Horns of Hattin" (Kurun Hattin), a ridge running east and west, not far from Capernaum. It was afterwards called the "Mount of Beatitudes."

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Dictionary

Theft

Punished by restitution, the proportions of which are noted in 2 Sam. 12:6. If the thief could not pay the fine, he was to be sold to a Hebrew master till he could pay (Ex. 22:1-4). A night-thief might be smitten till he died, and there would be no blood-guiltiness for him (22:2). A man-stealer was to be put to death (21:16). All theft is forbidden (Ex. 20:15; 21:16; Lev. 19:11; Deut. 5:19; 24:7; Ps. 50:18; Zech. 5:3; Matt. 19:18; Rom. 13:9; Eph. 4:28; 1 Pet. 4:15).

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Dictionary

Torches

On the night of his betrayal, when our Lord was in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, "having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons" (John 18:1-3). Although it was the time of full moon, yet in the valley of the Kidron "there fell great, deep shadows from the declivity of the mountain and projecting rocks; there were there caverns and grottos, into which a fugitive might retreat; finally, there were probably a garden-house and tower, into whose gloom it might be necessary for a searcher to throw light around." Lange's Commentary. (Nahum 2:3, "torches," Revised Version, "steel," probably should be "scythes" for war-chariots.)

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Dictionary

Winnow

Corn was winnowed, (1.) By being thrown up by a shovel against the wind. As a rule this was done in the evening or during the night, when the west wind from the sea was blowing, which was a moderate breeze and fitted for the purpose. The north wind was too strong, and the east wind came in gusts. (2.) By the use of a fan or van, by which the chaff was blown away (Ruth 3:2; Isa. 30:24; Jer. 4:11, 12; Matt. 3:12).

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